How about a Kelly/Crow ticket? It’s time to start repairing the image of Democrats being effete and feckless. They can start by grooming Sen. Mark Kelly (Arizona) and Rep. Jason Crow (Colorado) as the next president and vice president candidates. As a former union man with a master’s degree in e nvironmental policy and management, I have a foot in both the working class and the intellectual elite. Like most people, I am loosely anchored somewhere in the middle third of the political spectrum. It is imperative that we unseat this prospective dictator and prevent one of his clownish cronies from inheriting his throne. The two men mentioned above are the first step toward retaining a constitutional republic. Jim Arneberg, Hoffman Estates, Ill. Before considering HB 1177, consider “Consumer Regulated Electricity” Re: “Powering Big Data,” March 9 commentary Allen Best’s column highlighted concerns with House Bill 1177. The driver behind the bill is interest in capturing data center growth for Colorado. I applaud such interest, but there are other ways of capturing some of that business without imposing speculation risk on Coloradans. “Consumer Regulated Electricity” or CRE is one such alternative. CRE would allow investors to create new and independent electric utilities using their own capital to focus on the data centers. These new utilities (“CRE Utilities”) would be able to build projects much faster and with far greater innovation than is possible today. If Colorado can enable faster development of new electricity supplies, the state would have a tremendous competitive advantage. CRE’s features create the landscape for speed and innovation. Most critically, CRE Utilities will sell only to large, sophisticated customers. Second, CRE Utilities will be islanded. That means that they and their customers will form an electricity island, not connected to existing grids or utilities. Third, CRE Utilities won’t need to be regulated by the PUC. Since CRE Utilities will sell only to large, sophisticated customers and not residential customers and they can’t affect the cost or reliability of the regulated grids or utilities since they’re islanded, there simply is no need for PUC oversight. Instead of speculating on data center growth with the money of Coloradans, I urge the House to consider CRE and other alternatives before considering House Bill 1177. Glen Lyons, Houston Texas Accurate blood pressure readings is crucial A recent article by the American Medical Association (AMA)  shows four ways blood pressure measurements are done incorrectly. The AMA estimates that blood pressure management is altered incorrectly in 20% to 45% of all readings. The AMA, in conjunction with the American Heart Association, has published a detailed procedure on how blood pressure should be measured. A few of the key requirements are three to five minutes of quiet sitting in a chair with feet flat on the floor and back supported before the measurement is taken, measurement on bare skin, and measurement when the bladder is empty. I am 82 years old and in all my doctor and hospital and doctor visits, I have never been tested using this procedure.  In talking to family and friends, no one has been properly tested. Related Articles Letters | Former regulators — including one fired by Trump — push Colorado lawmakers to step up consumer protection Letters | Editorial: Jeanette Vizguerra’s detention mocks ICE’s important work to deport dangerous criminals Letters | Colorado labor bill may launch a ballot-box arms race as Gov. Jared Polis’ veto decision looms Letters | Housing bills up for votes, an affordability hearing and final budget forecast in the Colorado legislature this week Letters | Colorado legislators rewrite restaurant bill, backing away from direct cut to servers’ pay in Denver If the 20% to 45% error rate is correct, there may be millions of us who are being unnecessarily treated for high blood pressure. Peter Normington, Aurora Budget shortfall? Stop subsidizing big business Re: “Forecast includes $1.2B shortfall,” March 18 news story Legislative efforts to fill the $1.2 billion shortfall in the state budget should look beyond schools and social services. There are numerous entitlements for big business, especially the oil and gas industry, built into existing laws. Those should be cut first. Especially for the oil and gas industry. We more or less understand that we need to stop adding CO2 to the atmosphere if we’re going to get a handle on global warming. Why continue subsidizing them when we need the money for schools and social services? Thomas V. Dechert, Lafayette Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more. To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail. ...read more read less